Flash tube lighter structure for gas burners



July 1954 E. H. MUELLER 2,682,921

FLASH TUBE LIGHTER STRUCTURE FOR GAS BURNERS I Filed July 12, 1952 INVENTOR. Elev/N H. MUELLER ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 6, 1954 um Eoffl-sTAT s PATENT OFFICE FLASH TUBE LIGHTER STRUCTURE FOR GAS BURNERs Ervin H. Mueller. .Grosse Pointe, Mich. Application July 12, 1952, Serial No. 298,505

1 1 This invention relates to the structure of lighter mechanism for the top burners ;of gas ranges. Gas ranges usually have a plurality of so-called top burners and quite frequently there are four of such burners. These are the burners employed at the top portion of a range and are used for such purposes as frying or otherwise cooking food stufis in vessels.

The system of ignition usually employed embodies a relatively centrally disposed pilot flame and a flash tube extending from the flame to each burner, so that as'gas is supplied to a burner some gas travels through the flash tube to the pilot flame where it is ignited and the resultant flash back ignites the gas issuing from the burner. I

The invention aims to provide an improved flash tube structure, and particularly, improved construction at the end of the flash tube which is associated with the burner. The invention also aims to provide an improved construction for the ends of the flash-tubes which are positioned adjacent the pilot flame; This construction usually embodies what is termed a housing, which is a structure in the nature of a support surrounding the pilot flame, which supports and which is connected to the inner ends of the flash tubes. I r

Fig. 1 is a general and somewhat schematic view' illustrating 'four'top burners of a range and 101mm; (01. 15s115) showing the pilot housing andflash tube arrangement.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectionalviw on line 22 of Fig. 1, showing a part of a burner and the pilot flame and housing. v p Y Fig. 3 is a separated view of perspectivenature illustrating the burner end of a flash tube and a tip element.

Fig. 4 is a separated view illustrating the pilot end of the flash tube, part of the housing and a spring clip.

Fig. 5 is a view showing the structure of the pilot end of the flash tube.

In Fig. 1, a portion of a range is illustrated at I and it has a top plate 2 with apertures therein for four burners, each indicated at 3. The burners, of course, may be of any desired construction. Each burner has a mixing tube 5 into which gas may be furnished by a control valve 6, the valve being arranged to control the flow of gas from a manifold or pipe I, and in conjunction with the mixing tube, is a controlling element 9 for introducing primary air. The top plate 2 is cut away to show the above described structure for two of the burners, it being 2 understood that the other two have similar equipment.

As shown in Fig. 2 a burner 3 has ports 10 and II for the escape of combustible fuel to support the flames as shown, and each burner may have an extension l2 provided with a port [3 for association with a flash tube.

The pilot flame I6 is supplied with gas by a small tube l5 connected into the manifold l and the inner end of the tube 15 is turned upwardly. A so-called housing is in the form of a cup having a bottom portion 20 mounted on the upturned end of the tube IE to be supported thereby, and a side wall or flange 2|. A protective guard for the flame may take the form of a frusto-conical element 22 secured to the bottom of the housing and surrounding the flame 16.

The top edge of the flange 2| is provided with an enlargement, herein shown as an out-turned rim 25. This rim extends completely around the top edge of the wall 2| and is provided with a notch 26. This housing construction is similar to the construction disclosed and claimed in U. S. Patent No. 2,295,001 of September 8, 1942.

The flash tube structure is comprised of two tube sections 30 and 3| telescopingly assembled. The tube 30, which may be fashioned from a flat blank of sheet metal, has its upper portion cut back at an incline, as shown at 33, while the lower side is provided with a cut out to provide an opening 34 for secondary air. Thus the wall portions at 33 extend angularly downwardly from the top median line of the tube to' a location at the extreme end thereof which is in proximity to a horizontal diametral plane to the tube. The wall of the tube and especially the wall which forms the lower portion of the tube at the burner end is fashioned to provide a transverse portion which includes a flat seat 35, and parts 36 which join with the side walls of the tube at reversely bent portions 38. Thus the portions 35 extend upwardly from the lower portions 38, and the seat is in proximity to the horizontal diametral plane through the tube.

A tip generally illustrated at 40, has a tapered portion 4| arranged to be received in the aperture l3, and a body 42 arranged to rest upon the seat 35. The seat 35 is provided with an aperture 43 for receiving an integral stud G4 which is passed through the aperture 43 and the metal of which is flattened or riveted to attach the tip to the seat. The body 42 engages between the portions 36 and thus is held against turning. The strip has an angular passage 46 extending therethrough, one end of which opens into the burner, and the other end of which opens in the direction of or into the flash tube.

The tube part 3| is arranged to be secured to the housing 2| and for this purpose it is provided with an aperture in its wall as shown in Fig. 5. This aperture is somewhat in the shape of a figure 8 having enlarged end portions 50 and a smaller central portion 5!. To place a tube on the housing the aperture is aligned with the notch 26 and the tube is passed downwardly, and then the tube is shifted circumferentially relative to the housing and the rim 25 engages in the large portions 50 of the notch. The cross dimension of the narrow part 5| is less than the dimension of the rim 25 and, therefore, the .tube is held against disengagement. Also it may be shifted circumferentially.

In use the several flash tubes are mounted'after' the manner shown in Fig. 1, there being a flash tube for each burner. As above set forth, when gas is supplied to a burner, some gas passes through the passage 45 in the tip and into the flash tube and flows to the pilot flame l6 and is ignited thereby. The resultant explosionor back flash ignites the gas issuing from the burner ports ii. Gas issuing from the ports Ill may obtain ignition from the flames issuing from ports H.

Lighter assemblies are furnished to manufacturers of stove ranges and such manufacturers have different desires. Some desire to have the lighter housing and the flash tubes supplied to them in disassembled manner. Then when the lighter structure is being assembled into a range the flash tubes are, at that time, mounted upon the housing in the above described manner.

However, some manufacturers prefer to have the lighter structure in a more assembled manner and specifically desire to have the flash tubes assembled on the housing. In order to keep the flash tubes permanently assembledon the housing so that they will not become accidentally removed therefrom a spring clip is employed as illustrated at 69. This spring clip may be formed from a single piece of suitable metal of yielding characteristics having an arm s! for fitting inside the flange 2i and an arm E32 for fitting outside the flange 2 i, the two arms being connected by a bight portion 53. The outer arm 6| has a formed end portion providing a sort of detent ture in assembled condition. The difference is .thatinthe latter case the spring clip is employed.

Otherwise'the structure is the same. Since the manufacturing setup can be limited to one basic structure, manufacturing costs are reduced which, of course, is.reflected in the price to the ultimate user which'is progress in this useful art.

Iclaim:

A flash tube structure ifor the lighting system of a gas burner, wherein the burner has a port and a flash .tubeextends irom-the burner to a point adjacent a. pilot flame; atube member having an endfor association witha burner, said end having wallportionsformed to extend angularly downwardlyfrom the top median line of the tube to the extreme end-of the tube at a location in proximity to a horizontal diametralplane through the-tuba said end being formed with an aperture inits u-nderside for secondary air, the extreme end of the tube having opposite portions extending from the lower part of the tube upwardly and within the adjacent and'opposite'tube wall r portions toward the said horizontal diametral plane, a flat seat portion connecting said last two opposite portions, said flat seat portion being disposed adjacent the horizontal diametral plane through the tube member and having an aperture therein, and a tip seated on the underside of said seat portion, said tip having a projecting stud passingthroughsaid aperture, the material of the stud'being flattened above said seat portion to hold the tip secured to the seat portion, said tip having flat sides embraced by the said opposite upwardly extending portions-and adapted to be inserted in the aperture in the burner and having a passage therein for-directing gas from the burner into the flash tube.

References-Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 461,143 Randall Oct. 13, 1891 2,112,000 Stuckenholt Mar. 22, 1938 2,340,167 Alfery Jan. 25, 1944 2,612,218 Mueller Sept. 30, 1952 

